Our Volunteers

Our volunteers are key members of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of WNY team. Our volunteers make it possible for families who stay here to concentrate on their first priority: their sick child.

The teamwork of our volunteers, keeps our home running like a well-oiled machine. Volunteers make the difference for families and children. RMHC of WNY runs in large part because of the commitment and compassion of our hundreds of volunteers. These are a few of their stories:

Don Richardson is a very busy guy. A devoted husband, married 45 years, a father of 2 sons, an Owner/Operator of a local McDonald’s Restaurant, a volunteer member of the RMHC of WNY Board of Directors, an active volunteer at his local church and Lions Club and an aspiring golfer. Even with his very busy schedule, Don can always be …

What do a retired IRS employee, a retired Accountant, a retired Alcohol & Drug Counselor and a retired NRG supervisor have in common? Most people would say very little, but at the Buffalo Ronald McDonald House when you put these four people together, the results are “Team Jim & the Girls”. For the past 5 years, on every Wednesday morning Jim …

Richard Meyers, an avid runner, was first introduced to the Ronald McDonald House in 2000, by his wife Kate who was volunteering there at the time. “When I first walked in the House and saw the families and the children, it went straight to my heartstrings and I wanted to help. Kate suggested that I put together a 5K run …

Sometimes, a friendly face and an ear-to-ear smile make a world of difference for the families staying at Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) of Western New York. Elisabeth Weber is one of those smiling faces. She’s been volunteering at the Ronald McDonald House since 2011, and brightens the days of everyone she meets. You will find Elisabeth in our kitchen; …

I’m a mom and a marketer in that order. I am happiest when I’m busy and my time is filled with meaningful things to accomplish either at work, home or in the community. I enjoy baking, reading, biking, and history- learning about it and visiting historic places. I feel like it helps me understand why we are where we are …

With a combined tenure of almost 50 years between them, Jim & Joan Rowe are our Legacy Volunteers. Jim, a retired slitter operator from American Brass, has been volunteering at the Buffalo Ronald McDonald House since 1993, his wife Joan, a retired M&T Bank Teller, since 1992. Jim and Joan were brought up during the depression and they credit that …

He is a retired Trust & Estate lawyer and she is a retired elementary school Administrative Assistant. They have been married to each other for 48 years, they have two children (Ed and Meg) and 4 grandchildren (all girls!), they are both cross country cyclists and they are both part of the Tuesday morning Volunteer group at the Ronald McDonald …

I am a runner who hates running. I am a foodie. I am passionate about making Buffalo better. To help make that happen I give my time by volunteering and serving on committees for organizations and charities. I’ve found incredible rewards in being available and as a result, being there at the right time to help. I initially joined the …

If I describe myself, I would say I am a mother of two wonderful daughters and proud grandmother with four grandchildren. I am passionate about arts and craft – and follow a “do your own thing” approach. Furniture is my media of choice – I like taking pieces of furniture out of garbage and making them beautiful! My first introduction …

I grew up on a dairy farm in Lockport. As I look at my life, I have always thought I was the luckiest person in the world. I was a fifth and sixth grade teacher at Olmsted School for 32 years. I have a wonderful husband and a rather rambunctious Shih-poo named Daisy. When I retired from my teaching job, …

I am all about family. Spending time with my husband Ken and teenage daughter, Sienna, is what I love. We do everything together as a family, from trying new restaurants, to traveling, to volunteering. When I was growing up, my parents always took the time to give back to others, whether it was bringing bread to the mission or just …

I am a South Buffalo Boy. I attended Canisius College where I participated in their Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) Program. After graduation I served in the United States Army for two years, after which I began my 35-year civilian career with the US Social Security Administration in Buffalo. Social Security was a participant in the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) …

In my professional life, I am a Financial Advisor with Edward Jones. I was born and raised in Buffalo. I attended Canisius High School, and earned my Bachelors from Allegheny College. A good friend of mine, Kevin Brayer approached me one day and asked if I wanted to hop on the Ronald McDonald House Marketing Committee. He said he was …